ACTIVITIES
We specialize in a variety of activities including Arts & Crafts, Sports, Performing Arts and Music. Killooleet is designed so that campers are able to make their own schedule, after trying everything at least once.
Performing Arts
Every summer, the Drama Crew works on a musical, and everyone who wants to participate is welcome to join the cast. Recent musicals include Seussical the Musical, Guys and Dolls, Once Upon a Mattress and Annie. Drama classes include creative dramatics, improvisation, and occasionally short plays.
The video barn is a popular place. Most cabin groups create and film a production and interested campers join Video Crew. Finished projects encompass a variety of genres and are shown at Video Night in the final week.
Two or three times a summer, campers and staff organize talent nights, auditioning acts and creating the MC material that goes in between each act. ProNites include improv, dance, a piano solo, stand up comedy or Monty Python skits. Camper and staff bands perform as well.
Sports
Facilities include the lake with boating and swimming docks, clay tennis courts, softball and soccer fields, basketball court, archery and riflery ranges, horseback riding ring and barns, trails, hayfield and woodlands. Our regular sports include basketball, bicycling, canoeing, horseback riding, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, ultimate Frisbee, archery and riflery.
We also usually offer fencing, martial arts, juggling, gymnastics, and dance. Hiking, rock climbing, and caving occur on hike days.
In riding, campers learn the basics in the ring and progress to trail rides, dressage and jumping. Interested campers join Horse Crew, where they learn to groom, tack and care for our string of 12 horses.
Although a tough tennis match or rousing game of capture the flag are thoroughly enjoyed, Killooleet focuses on the joy of participation rather than that of winning. The only teams that last all summer are the softball and soccer league teams. The oldest campers are the captains, using their emerging leadership and teaching skills.
The Lake
We have a beautiful, spring fed, six acre lake. With four swimming docks and one boating dock around the perimeter, it has room for a variety of classes.
One group might be honing their diving skills at the Advanced Dock while another class works on strokes at 2nd Intermediate and still others are learning canoe and kayak strokes near the boating dock. When basic strokes have been learned the paddle boards offer an enjoyable challenge.
Nature classes explore the shallows and kingfishers and herons hunt in the early morning.
Music
Music is an integral part of camp life. We do a great deal of singing and offer lessons on acoustic guitar, banjo, piano, harmonica and other instruments depending on the staff. Once a week, we gather in the Main House for an acoustic Sing, and by mid-summer more campers than staff are performing.
Some campers sing by themselves or with a counselor and others harmonize in small groups. Campers sometimes write and perform their own songs, either alone or with cabinmates. Musical performances include campers and staff who play piano and a variety of other instruments such as violin, cello or clarinet.
Bands composed of both campers and staff play for dances and talent nights, which we call ProNites. Camper and Staff bands include electric guitar, keyboard, bass, drums, vocalists and a horn and wind section.
Studio Arts
Art: Drawing, sketching, painting in acrylic and watercolors, markers, etc.
Ceramics: In ceramics we build pots and sculptures by hand as well as create pieces on the wheel. Our studio has work tables, three wheels, and an electric kiln for bisque and glaze firing.
Fabric arts: Sewing by hand and machine, campers make pillows, bags, pajama pants, dresses or skirts, or stuffed animals.
Stained glass: Eye catching pieces are made by cutting the glass, shaping it to fit, putting copper foil around the edges and soldering the pieces together.
Woodworking: Everything from shelves to games, jewelry boxes, or treehouses.
Jewelry: Rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces made from sterling silver and brass
Other crafts include leather work, beading, batik, collage, knitting and basketry. The seven week full season allows time for depth of instruction, skill development and impressive accomplishments.
Camping & Exploration
Campers bring or rent bicycles and ride to everything on our flat campus. They may elect to go to go on bicycle hikes on Wednesdays, working their legs and stamina up to greater distances on and off road.
Wednesday is Hike Day. On these days, everyone is out of camp, climbing a mountain peak and enjoying the view, caving, canoeing, rock climbing, exploring a local brook, touring a local farm, or strolling with frequent stops to sketch and photograph the scenery.
There are two three-day camping trips during the season. The first is with the cabin group and the second is by interest. Older campers use hikes to work up to a challenging trips such as bicycling 70 miles a day, backpacking or canoeing in the Adirondacks.
The heart of our nature program is exploring the ecosystems of the valley – pine forests, overgrown fields, wetlands and streams. We respect the land and local wildlife, garden organically and recycle as much as possible.
Other activities include ‘survival’ and camoflague games, video production, gardening, and weekly cookouts.